15 things we learned from the Las Vegas NASCAR weekend

SIN CITY SHOWDOWN

It was another wild weekend in NASCAR-land. Following are 15 things we learned at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR via Getty ImagesDrew Hallowell

15. JUNIOR JAMMIN'

For the second consecutive year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has opened the season with three straight top-five finishes, though a late-race pit stop gamble didn't pay off as he hoped.

Getty ImagesChris Trotman

14. DOSE OF REALITY

The week before Las Vegas, young Brett Moffitt had a sensational run at Atlanta, where he finished eighth. At Las Vegas, he struggled home to a 37th-place finish.

NASCAR via Getty ImagesDrew Hallowell

13. VICTORY LANE IS LIKE

If you believe former Florida State co-ed and cowgirl Jenn Sterger's Instagram account, a visit to Victory Lane 'is prettttty much what an orgasm feels like.' Well, alrighty, then.

NASCAR via Getty ImagesJonathan Ferrey

12. BV'S BACK

After sitting out the first two races of the season while he recovered from offseason heart surgery, it was great to see Brian Vickers back behind the wheel of the No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota.

Getty ImagesJared C. Tilton

11. TONY'S TROUBLES

Want to know just how tough this year has been for Tony Stewart? His 33rd-place finish at Las Vegas was his best of the year to date.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY SportsJerome Miron

10. DUBIOUS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

After setting a NASCAR record by finishing 43rd in each of the first two races of the season, Landon Cassill had a better outing at Las Vegas, where he came home 35th.

Getty ImagesMatt Sullivan

9. FLYIN' RYAN

The Vegas race proved to be a good one for Ryan Newman and the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing team, as Newman posted an excellent third-place finish.

Getty ImagesJared C. Tilton

8. STILL STRUGGLING

Through the first three races of the season, the three Roush Fenway Racing drivers have combined for exactly one top-10 and no top-five finishes.

NASCAR via Getty ImagesJonathan Ferrey

7. HARD KNOCKS

Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson inexplicably lost not one, but two right-front tires. Not a great way to follow up his Atlanta victory.